31 March 2022

Plant health specialists from the Regional Directorates of the National Veterinary and Plant Protection Authority (NVPPA) took part in training on elements of Plant Health law. The training which was organised by the Food Safety Project focused on registration of professional operators and plant health passports.

46 Plant Health Protection specialists came from the 12 regional and central offices of NVPPA. The two-day training, 30-31 March 2022, held in Elbasan and Tirana was led by Irish Plant Health expert, Mr. Gabriel Roe.

Gabriel Roe worked for nine years as head of the Plant Health and Horticultural Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Marine in Ireland. Mr. Roe has also served as the Irish delegate to many committees within the EU, including the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The training included two field visits to professional operators involved in plant production. The first day included a visit to professional operator Eco Green, in Shirgjan, Elbasan. The visit on the second day took place at the premises of Agro Fidane Prenci, Bërxullë, Tirana. Future training on other elements of plant health is planned for later in the year.

Funded by the European Union, the project "Support for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Standards" is being implemented by a group led by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The implementing group also includes the Finnish Food Authority, the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Creative Business Solutions (CBS) in Albania.